Matt Joyce Rebounds

by MrNegative1 on Aug 26, 2011 1:00 PM EDT

Matt Joyce got off to a blazing start for the Rays in 2011 hitting .370/.430/.636 (1.066 OPS) with 9 HR and 30 RBI over the first two months of the season. The next two months of the season weren't as kind as he hit .179/.234/.358 (OPS .591) with 6 HR and 19 RBI. The declining numbers were tied to a possible shoulder injury which required a cortisone shot (his second shot since January) and to natural regression after such a hot start to the season. In the midst of the June/July slump Joyce earned the nickname MOM to suggest that his numbers were built up primarily in the month of May. As fans we never really know an injury is affecting a player but based on Joyce's June and July numbers it may be safe to assume that the shoulder injury negatively affected his output.

Joyce seems to have turned a corner in August as he has hit .278/.381/.426 in 63 plate appearances. Overall, he is hitting .278/.344/.492 with 17 HR and 56 RBI and has a fWAR of 2.6, a wRC+ of 130, a wOBA of .359, and an ISO of .214. His 2011 season compares favorably to many other AL outfielders: his fWAR of 2.6 places him 12th, the wRC+ of 130 places him 8th, the wOBA of .359 places him 10th, and the .214 ISO ranks 10th. The black eye on Matt Joyce will continue to be his inability to play everyday as he struggles against left-handed pitching with a career slash line of .169/.261/.297 (.558 OPS) in 134 plate appearances.

As the summer has moved on and the Rays have slipped further down in the standings, it seems that Joyce's season is being lost somewhat in the trade rumor discussion involving B.J. Upton and James Shields, the callup and subsequent performance of Desmond Jennings, the discussion concerning why Ben Zobrist isn't discussed as a MVP candidate, the sudden resurgence of the long ball off the bat of Evan Longoria, and who from Durham deserves a September callup.

How good can Matt Joyce be in 2012? Will he see any time at first base? Will Joe Maddon look to garner extra at-bats versus right handed pitching by hitting him in the #2 position against right handed pitching?

Poll

Matt Joyce's 2011 Season:

Has increased your expectations for Joyce's 2012 season.

136 votes

Has tempered your expectations for Joyce's 2012 season.

31 votes

167 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 29 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

spray chart for August

already more hits the other way this month than in the previous two months combined. He’s not hitting the ball as far these days, so there still could be a physical issue involved

spray chart for June & July

I'm not a fanboy, I'm a _______

by Jason Collette on Aug 26, 2011 1:12 PM EDT reply actions

Please bat him 2nd!

I am so tires of seeing Damon hit 2nd. Joyce or Kotch should be in that spot. Preferably Joyce.

MLBdirt
Figure Filbert

by jcmitchell on Aug 26, 2011 1:18 PM EDT via iPhone app reply actions

did he dies?

I'm not a fanboy, I'm a _______

by Jason Collette on Aug 26, 2011 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions

His patiences sures has.

MLBdirt
Figure Filbert

by jcmitchell on Aug 26, 2011 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I'm all for Joyce at number two.

A DRaysBay and FanGraphs writer from Cubs Stats and Twitter @BradleyWoodrum

by BWoodrum on Aug 26, 2011 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry, i can't share others enthusiasm for a "strict platoon" player, and it is why i've backed off of S-Roddy

I’ll never consider MOM a top hitter as long as it’s only v RHP

follow me on twitter @sternfan10

by sternfan1 on Aug 26, 2011 1:46 PM EDT reply actions

"strict platoon player"

Current Batting Value over Replacement value for Rays hitters:

Zobrist – 49.7
Joyce – 25.2
Longoria – 24.2
Kotchman – 23.3
Jennings – 20.3
Damon – 16.9
Upton – 12.8
Fuld – 7.0
Rodriguez – 6.8

2 things — Zobrist is such a badass (even moreso on the road), and Jennings to be that high, already is a WOW

I'm not a fanboy, I'm a _______

by Jason Collette on Aug 26, 2011 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions

It doesn't change the fact that he doesn't hit lefties and his glove isn't good enough to justify a Guyer-type from getting those LH ABs

If you can't say something to someone's face then it's not worthy of being said behind their back.

by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 26, 2011 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Won't argue this

He’s 4x the “strict platoon” player Roddy is and as FreeZo said, nothing wrong with lefty platoon guys because they’re going to see 85% of the playing time in a strict platoon.

I'm not a fanboy, I'm a _______

by Jason Collette on Aug 26, 2011 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Well it's more like 70%, but yeah, the trick will be finding a caddy for him

Guyer sounds like that guy on paper, but ideally you want to be able to give him more than 250 PAs. And if Upton’s traded they probably view him as a full timer so they still need to find that Kapler type player

If you can't say something to someone's face then it's not worthy of being said behind their back.

by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 26, 2011 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I'll throw this name out there

Chris Denorfia

.293/.370/.407 vs LHP in 321 PA’s and can play all 3 OF positions at or above league average. Heading into arb2 coming off a season making 0.8 and will turn 32 halfway through the season. Not sure the Padres have the room to keep him around.

I'm not a fanboy, I'm a _______

by Jason Collette on Aug 26, 2011 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Him, Blanks, and Frieri for Beej and Niemann

Never happen

If you can't say something to someone's face then it's not worthy of being said behind their back.

by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 26, 2011 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions

If we took Roddy & Joyce and made the the RF platoon this season

They’d have the 5th best VORP behind Bautista, Berkman, Justin Upton, and Pence.

I’m alright with platoons…

I'm not a fanboy, I'm a _______

by Jason Collette on Aug 26, 2011 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe you haven't noticed, he doesn't often get a start anymore v a LHP

follow me on twitter @sternfan10

by sternfan1 on Aug 26, 2011 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions

actually, he has been getting them more recently

I'm not a fanboy, I'm a _______

by Jason Collette on Aug 26, 2011 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Lefty platoon players are cool with me

Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla

by FreeZorilla on Aug 26, 2011 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm so tired of platoon players

C, SS, 2B, RF, LF (till Jennings)—where does it end?

follow me on twitter @sternfan10

by sternfan1 on Aug 26, 2011 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Most baseball players are better served in platoon roles

The Rays have flexible enough players to get away with it. Another everyday righty would be nice, that was supposed to be Manny.

Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla

by FreeZorilla on Aug 26, 2011 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

You're going to have a 4th or 5th OF anyway, why not assign them a defined role and give them other playing time as it pops up?

Would you prefer the guy just rides the pine until an injury or PH appearance?

If you can't say something to someone's face then it's not worthy of being said behind their back.

by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 26, 2011 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

go back to rooting for the Indians then

I'm not a fanboy, I'm a _______

by Jason Collette on Aug 26, 2011 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions

or Astros?

follow me on twitter @sternfan10

by sternfan1 on Aug 26, 2011 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

That's what I'm doing tonight.....

from behind home plate at AT&T Park

#humblebrag

I'm not a fanboy, I'm a _______

by Jason Collette on Aug 26, 2011 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions

134 Plate Appearances

I wonder if he can unlock the secret to hitting against lefties?

We were more than happy to suggest to get Sean Rod in there against righties for an extended period to see if he could at least hit the mistakes, maybe Joyce needs the same extended opportunity in the future?

Or maybe we can supply Joyce with a Kevin Long book HERE

by MrNegative1 on Aug 26, 2011 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions